Metro Vancouver Outreach

HeadStart
Early Childhood (ages 2-6)

HeadStart programs aim to level the playing field for children living in Vancouver's inner-city by providing a stimulating learning experience. The programs serve children of families from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Contact Arts Umbrella for further information on programs in your community.

Programs run at the following locations:
Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre
Grandview Terrace Pre-school
Eagles-in-the-Sky Daycare
Strathcona Pre-school
Phil Bouvier Family Centre
Britannia Pre-school

Art Start for Parents

This program provides visual art and creative movement training to parents enrolled in Ray-Cam's Child Care Training program. Arts Umbrella assists in providing specialist training skills and resources to parents who are mostly new to Canada and parenthood, training to become employed as child-care workers.

Arts Outreach at the
Broadway Youth Resource Centre

The BYRC offers a variety of support services for youth city-wide. This weekly drop-in program provides a fun and safe environment for young parents to develop care and communication with their child and encourages self-esteem and healthy living for the participants.

Arts Outreach at Down Syndrome Research Foundation (DSRF)

Through play, movement, music and art making, these classes at DSRF encourage young students to develop imaginative forms of expression and provide a creative environment that supports the child's social and personal development. Families involved with DSRF are able to take advantage of this program.

Theatre Arts Outreach at Britannia
Ages 12-15

This program offers after-school instruction in improvisation, mask making, clowning, script development and puppetry for students in grades 7-9, at Britannia Community Centre. Students are provided with a nutritional snack each week. A public performance is held annually.

Amacon Theatre Arts Outreach at Strathcona
Ages 7-12

This eight-month program includes improvisation, mask making, clowning, script development and puppetry. Children are transported to Strathcona Community Centre and provided with a nutritional snack. A public performance is held annually.

Theatre Arts Outreach at Kiwassa Neighborhood House

Kiwassa Children's program provides programming for people living in the Hastings Sunrise and Grandview Woodlands area. The classes provide mentorship and encourage self-esteem through games, improvisation, scene work and performance.

Arts Outreach at the Immigration Services Society (ISS)

Arts Umbrella offers young people who are going through a settlement program at ISS a chance to develop their own creative expression, build self-confidence, and learn new skills through play, movement, music and art making in a safe and supportive environment. Open to those participating in a refugee settlement program.

Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach - An Arts Umbrella Project (SMMO)

SMMO allows young people to explore their creative potential and develop positive peer connections that will inspire them to succeed in life, in addition to building a life-long love of music and enthusiasm for learning. The program is guided by the vision of founding partner, international singer/songwriter, Sarah McLachlan.

The programs are led by professional musician instructors, who guide students in an exploration of their creative process through songwriting, playing in an ensemble and recording their original work.